The House on Mango Street Friendship Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #10

I like Alicia because once she gave me a little leather purse with the word GUADALAJARA stitched on it, which is home for Alicia, and one day she will go back there. But today she is listening to my sadness because I don't have a house. (42.1)

Is Esperanza's friendship with Alicia really based on the gift of a purse? Of course not. The purse signifies something deeper to Esperanza – it's a sign of the intimacy that exists between the two girls that allows Alicia to share a part of her home with the younger girl.

Quote #11

Friends and neighbors will say, What happened to that Esperanza? Where did she go with all those books and paper? Why did she march so far away? They will not know I have gone away to come back. For the ones I left behind. For the ones who cannot out. (44.7)

Does friendship have anything to do with Esperanza's agreement to come back to Mango Street? Is she coming back for her friends, or is her return an expression of friendship?